January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Greg N'Ash]

Trouble is he's as mad as a box of frogs and while everyone deserves a 2nd chance or 5th or 6th in his case, you do wonder what he's gonna do next. If and its a big IF we could get back all the money we paid and AM was allowed to spend the full amount i'd be tempted. If not we'd be better hoping he keeps improving and turns into the player he was at Citeh for a while. Rather a high-wire act though and you wouldn't bet against him throwing it all down the drain again.

[VillaSpen]

Surely I can't be the only cynical old sod that is less than amazed at Ireland's inclusion and form considering the transfer window is open? I couldn't agree more that he's finally showing some ability but I fear it'll be back to normal on February 1st.

[paul_e]

Enjoyed watching Ireland yesterday, thought he was the best player on the pitch.

He looked good in patches but he never created anything worthwhile - never has. I'd get rid of him if we got a decent offer and get someone better in.

I take it by 'never created anything worthwhile' you are talking apart from Bent's goal... and I presume he won MOTM by doing nothing too?

I kinda agree with sashasgrandad here.  He did play a role in the build up to the goal but it was very much a team goal.  However other than that I can't think of any chances that came from him.  I said the same against Bristol Rovers, at the moment he's doing  ok but nothing more than that(there are flashes of brilliance but nothing is coming from them, this is a fault of the team as much as him though), it's just that we'd gotten so used to abject lazy performances that any improvement seems huge.

I think the best thing to do is compare him to Ashley Young.  Even on a bad day you could see Young creating a chance or 2.  On good days he completely bossed the game.  I'm yet to see Ireland match bad day Young let alone dominate a game.

I wouldn't sell him though.

[nick harper]

Great, our most gifted player is finally beginning to feel part of the club and getting good vibes from the fans and people want to sell him. If only McLeish could train the team to move off the ball, Ireland might find the gaps to open sides up.

[Concrete John]

Great, our most gifted player is finally beginning to feel part of the club and getting good vibes from the fans and people want to sell him. If only McLeish could train the team to move off the ball, Ireland might find the gaps to open sides up.

I couldn't agree more about the movement issue, but with Ireland I can't help feeling this is the oasis in the desert that has been his Aston Villa career.  While he's playing well, we play him without question, however if we get the opportunity to get some money back and clear his wages off the wagebill, then I fear turning it down could prove to be a missed opportunity.

Time will tell.   

[Dave Clark Five]

Great, our most gifted player is finally beginning to feel part of the club and getting good vibes from the fans and people want to sell him. If only McLeish could train the team to move off the ball, Ireland might find the gaps to open sides up.

You wouldn't think that any player who has got through the minefield of a route to becoming a professional footballer would need training to move off the ball. It is all about confidence in my opinion. I would expect seasoned players to try to instil this confidence into the younger ones.

Regarding Ireland, he is a different player now and I want to see him stay and help us develop a midfield that is probably the least established in the whole league. I can understand the cynicism that some have with Ireland but you sometimes have to hang on to what crumbs of hope you have got. Lerner may want to offload before he spends any more. He needs to find replacements before he does this, not flog them now and try to bluff it out until August.

[Matt C]

Confidence seems a particuarly big thing with Ireland - like I said, thought he had a decent game on Saturday but once he crossed for the goal you saw him visibly change, the fans gave him some encouragement and he was at the centre of our good 15 minute spell.

[N'ZMAV]

I've got a sneaky feeling if we had a decent couple of years out of Ireland that Fergie would take him to United.

[Merv]

Great, our most gifted player is finally beginning to feel part of the club and getting good vibes from the fans and people want to sell him. If only McLeish could train the team to move off the ball, Ireland might find the gaps to open sides up.

I agree. He's been a write off for 18 months but now he's fit he's getting the opportunity to play, and he's beginning to show glimpses of what he can do. Our options are pretty limited in midfield as it is (which is why I'm against Delph being moved on loan) and, if he's playing well, Ireland must stay. He's just about the only midfield player we have who is neither young and inexperienced (Herd, Clark) or entering the final phase of his career (Petrov). He's 25/26, should be entering into his prime - be nice if that prime is with us.

[Le Lapin]

I hope we do sell Ireland still an over rated over paid prick..

You shouldn't bottle things up...tell us what you really think.
By the way I think you are wrong on two points. He's not over rated. And we shouldn't sell one of the few players that has a bit of vision in our team.

[Shrek]

This is Ireland's first run in the team and he looks by far our best player, he has connected with the fans and looks better for it.

I hope we keep him because him and N'Zogbia are going to be quality together.

[Rick_avfc]

Looks like Delph could be heading back to leeds on loan.  Good move for him I think

[Concrete John]

I've been disappointed by Delph this season, but a loan may help him. 

[Dave Clark Five]

Aston Villa are considering a loan move for Slovenia midfielder Armin Bacinovic, who plays for Italian club Palermo.

[nick harper]

Aston Villa are considering a loan move for Slovenia midfielder Armin Bacinovic, who plays for Italian club Palermo.

Never heard of him but maybe Delph going out gives him the opportunity to bring a bit more experience into midfield. It's a faint hope but please let him be an energetic box to box midfielder a la Milner.